Occupational Health and Safety:Man Crushed By Truck at NBN Site

A man was killed when he was crushed between two trucks at the National Broadband Network (NBN) worksite.

Paramedics rushed to the scene and found the 57-year old trapped between two trucks but had already succumbed to his head injuries.

Police report that the man was removing an item from the back of one of the trucks when unaccompanied young worker got into a second truck and parked right behind. The 20-year old worker drove into the man and crushed him against the stopped truck.

NBN Co released a statement confirming the death and stated that it was working with its contractor to assist in investigations .

The death comes only a day after it was revealed several NBN rollout sites across the country have been under investigation for asbestos exposure risks.

Acting Superintendent Andrew Koutsoufis says the worker was pronounced dead at the scene.

“It just seems to have been a tragic accident at this stage,” he said.

“We’re very early into our investigation of the matter.

“The driver of the truck was conveyed to a local hospital to undergo mandatory testing, we’ve got a crash investigation unit there.”

Superintendent Koutsoufis says the driver is very distressed.

“But as yet, other than undergoing the mandatory testing we haven’t spoken to him in a formal manner,” he said.

WorkCover is currently investigating the incident and union officials from the Community and Public Sector Union are looking into the death.

Kiama is one of the five towns connected to the $37.4 billion high-speed broadband network or NBN